France -- History -- Henry III, 1574-1589 -- Fiction
“Ah, M. de Monsoreau, there is no more rest for you,” said Bussy,
“you wished to be chief huntsman, and you are so, and now you will
have at least fifty nights’ rest less than other men. Luckily
you are not married.”
At this joke, Monsoreau’s face was covered once more with that
hideous paleness which gave to him so sinister an aspect.
CHAPTER XII.
HOW BUSSY FOUND BOTH THE PORTRAIT AND THE ORIGINAL.
The chase terminated about four o’clock in the evening, and at
five all the court returned to Paris. As they passed by the Bastile,
the duke said to Bussy, “Look to the right, at that little wooden
house with a statue of the Virgin before it; well, count four
houses from that. It is the fifth you have to go to, just fronting
the Rue St. Catherine.”
“I see it; and look! at the sound of the trumpets announcing the
king, all the windows are filled with gazers.”
“Except the one I show you, where the curtains remain closed.”
“But there is a corner lifted,” said Bussy, with a beating heart.
“Yes, but we can see nothing. The lady is well guarded. However,
that is the house.”
When Bussy returned, he said to Rémy, “Have you discovered the
house?”
“No, monseigneur.”
“Well, I believe I have been more lucky.”
“How so, monsieur, have you been seeking?”
“I passed through the street.”
“And you recognized the house?”
“Providence, my dear friend, has mysterious ways.”
“Then you are sure?”
“Not sure, but I hope.”
“And when shall I know if you are right?”
“To-morrow morning.”
“Meanwhile, do you want me?”
“No, my dear Rémy.”
“Shall I not follow you?”
“Impossible.”
“Be prudent, monseigneur.”
“Ah! the recommendation is useless, my prudence is well known.”
Bussy dined like a man who does not know when he will sup, then,
at eight o’clock, choosing the best of his swords, and attaching,
in spite of the king’s orders, a pair of pistols to his belt,
went in his litter to the corner of the Rue St. Paul.
He easily recognized the house again, and then, wrapped in his
cloak, hid at the corner of the street, determined to wait for
two hours, and at the end of that time, if no one came, to act
for himself. He had scarcely been there ten minutes, when he
saw two cavaliers coming. One of them dismounted, gave his horse
to the other, who was probably a lackey, and who went away with
the horses, and advanced towards the house pointed out to Bussy,
and, after glancing round to see if he were observed, opened
the door and went in. Bussy waited two or three minutes, and
then followed him. He advanced slowly and softly, found the
staircase, and went up. In the corridor he stopped, for he heard
a voice say, “Gertrude, tell your mistress that it is I, and
that I must come in.”
This was said in an imperious tone, and, a minute after, Bussy
heard a woman’s voice say:
“Pass into the drawing-room, Monsieur, and madame will come to
you.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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